BACOLOD CITY: The incidence of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) in the city has reached “alarming levels”, with authorities rescuing 10 minors over the past two months and intensifying a manhunt for the alleged mastermind behind the operations, a city official said on Thursday.
Richelle Verdeprado-Mangga, head of the Bacolod City Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD), said a study by the International Justice Mission (IJM), a global human rights organisation that combats violence, slavery and exploitation, identified Bacolod as one of the country's hotspots for online sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
From June to July, the DSSD and the Bacolod City Police Office rescued 10 minors, aged between 12 and 17, from various barangays in the city. Nine of the victims were female, while one was male.
According to Verdeprado-Mangga, the rescued children identified a person believed to have recruited and directed them to perform sexual acts, which were recorded using mobile phones and allegedly sold to buyers abroad.
Authorities are now conducting a manhunt for the suspect while continuing efforts to locate more than 10 additional victims described by those who have already been rescued.
Two-sentence summary: Authorities in Bacolod City have rescued 10 minors from online sexual abuse and exploitation over the past two months as officials warn that the crime has reached alarming levels. Police are pursuing the alleged recruiter while searching for more than 10 additional victims believed to be involved. - Inquirer/ANN
